For teenage girls, life can seem like one big challenge. From navigating the social structure of high school to dealing with a changing body, evolving mind and figuring out what to do with your future, stress is usually at an all-time high. Understanding your health and body as a teenage girl can help you get educated about who you are as a person.
Fitness and Nutrition
What you put into your body and how you move on a daily basis has a direct effect on how you look. For teenage girls, body image can be a huge issue. That's why getting a balanced diet that includes food from each food group and a regular exercise program that consists of 30 minutes of physical activity most days is the best way to stay in shape. Poor body image can lead to eating disorders like anorexia nervosa, bulimia and binge eating. If you think you may have an eating disorder, talk to a parent, friend, teacher or health care provider immediately.
Sexual Health
One of the most radical changes that goes on in a teenage girl's body is sexual development. Hormones are running wild, helping transform your body from that of a child to a young woman. As you grow and develop, you may have questions about your sexuality and how you're feeling. Talk to your parent, a trusted adult, or your doctor about your sexuality questions. As you mature through your teenage years, you may notice your breasts becoming more full, your hips widening and the start of your menstrual cycle, or period. Most girls start hitting puberty between the ages of 8 and 13, according to the Office on Women's Health.
Mental Health
The start of puberty and the intense changes going on in your life all have an effect on how you think and act. Being a teenage girl means making more of your own choices and finding out who you are as a person. For some people, this can lead to confusion or even make you scared. Remember that many of the roller-coaster emotions you may be feeling are the result of hormones surging through your system as you experience puberty, and are completely normal. If you feel your mental health is out of balance, you should talk to a health professional and a parent or trusted adult.
Drugs and Alcohol
The influence of drugs and alcohol seems to be everywhere during the teenage years. Underage drinking and smoking can set you down a path that will have long-lasting consequences. You may feel significant peer pressure to try drugs, alcohol or smoking. This, too is completely normal, but you have a choice in how you can respond. Choose friends who will respect your decision to not do drugs or drink alcohol because you know the harmful effects it can have on your life.
